The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-29
THE FRAUDULENT BONNET.
Some of the Items of It's Extraordinary
Cost.

Cost.
New YORK, Nov. 26.-The other day
INDUCED in that truly feminine-I had al
most said pastime, of ripping to pieces
bonnet that had done duty the season be-
fore. 1t was a black dotted lace l have
seen the same kind at all the stores selling
such things at 81 so per yard. There was
also a pert looking bow of ribbon, a jet
ornament, and frame work of stiffened
lace net and wire. / had thought it ex
ceedingly pretty six months ago when had
gone into one of our leading establishments
| which sell millinery. | liked it from the
very first, and felt pretty sure we should be-
come friends; and when the attractive-look-
| ing young woman, who had shown it to me
| held it up arm-high, and looked up at it
with her head tilted one side, saying, Isn't
| it stvlish?' felt convinced the bonnet was
made expressly for me; that fate had drawn
us together. 1t became my property, and
when the bill which accompanied its ar
| rival at my home was presented for S25,
| it never occurred to me that it was exces-
sive; in fact, all the bonnets in that particu-
| lar store cost from SIS upwards, and mine
was, as the attendant had said, "stylish"
| 1t didn't seem much to pay for perfect sat-
| isfaction all summer, and it was pleasant to
hear nv friends say, "How well you are
| looking" when knew it was the bonnet all
the time Still, when / came to rip it apart
the thought did occur to me that had not
value received.
A carpenter made me chest not long ago
| in which to pack away blankets. His bill
Yves SO MANY feet of lumber, hinges, lock
and labor. They were all satisfactory, and
| did not think the bill for labor at all high
on the contrary, it was somewhat less than
had anticipated.
A few days1ater happened in the store
where had purchased my bonnet and saw
some ribbon just like mine, the price of
which was 75c per yard; anywhere else it
| would have been cheaper. | also asked the
price of jet ornament almost identical
with mine. 1t was 81. | next priced hat
frames like mine, price 25c. A spirit of
curiosity seized me. l determined to go
home and measure the materials of which
nv bonnet was composed. This was the re-
suit:
Two yards of ribbons at 75c. 81 so
Wire and lace frame. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 25
One yard dotted lace. e. ................... so
Jet ornament. ................ ...........-. O0
Total. Is
As had paid $25 it left $50 IS for labor.
shall take care that my carpenter does not
see these figures. or he and his Xix would be
sure to rise up in rebellion. / assure you
he charged very much less to make my
DdChlIlB
! have made several bonnets in the same time
| You may say the milliner charged for her
skill Even so, did not the carpenters Is
| the skill in making bonnet SO much more
valuable than that required to make a
strong boxs Between mental labor and
mere manual labor, the mental comes out,
or should, ahead, but neither carpenter nor
millinery require much brain work, except
such skill as may be required by dizziness of
hand and the averge common sense that
| must be used for any success.
Henceforth | shall protest against the
! most UNEQUAL division of labor. Here is an
opportunity for Mr.. Henry George to do
some adjusting, If he does and makes it
practical he will have every woman in the
| land in favor of him. | know in secret
every woman feels she is swindled when she
buys bonnet. never had friend show
me new bonnet yet without apologizing
for the enormous price she had paid. 1t is
usually something like this: ''See my bon
net. How do you like It'll 1 hope you do.
1t cost $50: an awful price; wasn't it! But,
then, what am | to doa They ask that
much everywhere for a really stylish hat. y
They seem ashamed of acknowledging them
selves imposed upon and 50 make excuses. l
| couldn't begin to count the women l have
met who tell very snow white fibs about the
price of their bonnets; but the fib is always
| to underrate the price, while it is almost
proverbial that in speaking Of anything
else, to advance the price a little is consid-
cred a very triding sin not worth the angels
while to record.
II feel" said friend, ''when wear an
| expensive bonnet to church, like asking for
| forgiveness, the same as for any other of my
sins.n EVELYN BAKER HARvIER